From the BBC:
“New name
for a Canadian town called Asbestos”
The small
Canadian town of Asbestos that decided it needed a rebrand has done away with
the name derived from its mining heritage. The Quebec town, home to some 7,000
people, voted for "Val-des-Sources" as its new moniker. The town was
once the location of the world's largest asbestos mine. It was given the
English name for the mineral - rather than the French amiante - in the late
19th Century. But the town's council said the connotation hindered its ability
to attract foreign investment, and announced last November that the hunt was on
for a new name.
The town, about
150 km (95 miles) east of Montreal, finally announced the winning title with
some fanfare on Monday evening. It was picked after a lengthy consultation and
a vote by town residents, including those as young as 14. About half the town
residents eligible to cast ballots did so. Val-des-Sources won with just over
51% of the vote in the third round of voting. The name is "above all,
inspiring for the future", Mayor Hugues Grimard said. Other possibilities
on the shortlist were L'Azur-des-Cantons, Jeffrey-sur-le-Lac, Larochelle,
Phénix and Trois-Lacs, which came in second place. Asbestos won't be changing
its town signs immediately, said Mr Grimard, who suggested it could be the end
of the year before the formal, legal switch. "It'll be a nice Christmas
present," he said.
The town of
Asbestos thrived for over a century on the chrysotile asbestos manufactured at
its open-pit mine. The mine suspended operations in 2011. Once considered a
miracle mineral, asbestos was used in construction industries for strengthening
cement, in insulation, roofing, fireproofing and sound absorption. But by the
mid-20th Century, concerns about its use were growing as more and more studies
linked asbestos to deadly illnesses. Breathing in asbestos fibres has been
linked to cancer and other diseases. Global demand plummeted as countries
around the world began banning asbestos. Canada was a latecomer, only banning
its manufacture, import, use and export in 2018.
^ Hopefully
this new name will help the town and its residents. ^
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